Thrifts lost $3B in 4Q; post record annual loss

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. thrifts lost $3 billion in the fourth quarter and more than $13 billion last year, a record annual loss.

The Office of Thrift Supervision says net losses last year surged to $13.44 billion, from $649 million in 2007. But the fourth-quarter loss was actually better than the $4.4 billion loss in the third quarter.

Thrifts last year set aside $38.7 billion for losses on bad mortgages and other loans, the highest point since 1991, due mainly to increased mortgage delinquencies.

Troubled assets now account for more than 2.5 percent of assets, up from nearly 1.7 percent a year ago.

Thrifts are important to consumer lending because they must have at least 65 percent of their lending in mortgages and other consumer loans.

Copyright 2015 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.